Leather lacing means and method



March 1953 L. G. FREEMAN, JR 2,825,366

LEATHER LACING MEANS AND METHOD Filed Sept. 15, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. laws 61 flew-444m JP,

HTTOENIYS.

LEATHER LACING MEANS AND METHOD Louis G. Freeman, IL, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Louis G. Freeman Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 15, 1954, Serial No. 456,248

6 Claims. (Cl. 139-48) My invention has to do with the formation of laced leather pieces and finds particular utility in the formation of laced leather members for shoes, although the laced members may be used for any purpose for which laced leather is appropriate.

For the most part the lacing of leather pieces for shoes has been a hand operation, a common procedure being to attach a lacing needle to a support in upright position and then thread a leather piece on to the needle passing the needle alternately in opposite directions through adjacent slits in the leather. When the leather piece has been thus threaded onto the needle, a leather lacing thong is attached to the free end of the needle and the leather piece withdrawn. This results in the lacing thong occupying the position formerly occupied by the needle. The operation, of course, is repeated for each thong required for the particular lacing design. This type of operation is both time consuming and costly; and furthermore, numerous opportunities for error are inherent in the operation and incorrect positioning of the leather thongs often results. These factors make the hand lacing of leather pieces an extremely costly opera tion and the increased cost must either be borne by the manufacturer or passed on to the consumer in the form of more expensive shoes.

It has also been proposed to lace leather pieces by mechanical means acting to automatically position lacing needles with respect to the leather piece and to draw the lacing strips through the leather. While the automatic mechanical lacing of leather pieces has proved to be satisfactory for large scale production wherein the volume of work produced warrants the cost of the machine, the cost of such equipment is prohibitive for the small manufacturer who is desirous of producing only a small quantity of laced leather articles. Consequently the small producer is forced to go either to a costly hand operation or to use an expensive machine, neither of which is economically feasible for It is, therefore, a principal object of my invention to provide inexpensive leather lacing means and a procedure for lacing which eliminates the inaccuracies inherent in a hand operation as well as'the amount of time consumed in the lacing operation, and at the same time does not require the expensive equipment required for the fully automatic lacing of the pieces.

Yet a further object of my invention is the provision of means and a method by means of which laced leather pieces may be made at reduced cost and which employs inexpensive mechanism.

Yet a further object of my invention is the provision of means and a method for the production of laced structures in what may be termed a single operation, as distinct from a strip-by-strip operation.

These as well as other objects of my invention, which will be set forth or explained hereinafter or will be apparent to the skilled worker in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that procedure and mecha- United States Patent F 2,825,366 Patented Mar. 4, 1958 nism of which I shall now describe an exemplary embodiment.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic representation of a deflecting assembly comprising upper and lower die members.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1. i

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the lower die element in accordance with my invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure '3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the upper die element taken along the line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a leather piece adapted to be laced in accordance with my invention.

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the deflecting elements and a workpiece just prior to the closing of the elements about the workpiece.

Figure 9 is a sectional view similar to Figure 8 and showing the deflecting element in closed position and illustrating the needles positioned in the channels defined by the deflecting element.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the deflected workpiece with the needles in laced position.

Figure 11 is a plan view of a needle element for use with my invention.

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a planview of the leather piece with all of the needles laced in position.

Figure 14 is a plan view with parts broken away of a jig for supporting the workpiece for the actual lacing operation.

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken along the line 15- 15 of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the completed Work-piece.

Briefly, in the practice of my invention, I provide deflecting elements acting to deflect portions of the workpiece to either side of a median plane, the deflecting elements serving to define channels through which needle elements are adapted to be inserted. The lower deflecting element is provided with adjustable guide means serving to position the workpiece with respect to the deflecting die; and the upper deflecting element is adapted to mate with the lower element. These elements may be mounted in a simple press or, if such is available, they may be conveniently mounted in a slitting press of the type taught in United States Letters Patent No. 2,526,868. It will be understood that the closing of the deflecting elements will serve to deflect the workpiece and define channels for the insertion of the needles.

Upon insertion of the needles through the deflected workpiece, the entire-workpiece and needle assembly is removed from the deflecting element and placed in a jig acting to firmly support the workpiece, whereupon lacing strips are connected to the ends of the needles and the needles then drawn from the workpiece so as to position the lacing strips in the position formerly occupied by the needles. The arrangement is such that one operator may insert the needles and then pass the assembly to a second operator who will fit it into the jig and insert the lacing strips, whereupon the needles may be returned to the first operator for reuse.

For a clearer understanding of my invention, reference is now made to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings wherein I have illustrated a lower deflecting element 1 and an upper deflecting element 2 arranged to be brought tog'etlierf'by" suitable press 7 are diagrammatically illustrated at 3 and 4.

:,In; the embodimenttillustrated the deflecting elements are mounted on base plates 5 and 6of tiie"liind;suitable tor convenientattachrnentto the jaws of thepres's. The lower deflecting" element 1' includes laterally extending porti-ons17 ,andi8 which definesinefifecta platform-sup gortfedjabove thefbase late sby'rn e'ahjs of stutds- 913 Side 'g'iirdes'numberedltland 11 are slidably s'upported'ron the lateral extensions -7 andr8,.and arranged to jointIy rnove laterally with fe spect'to' the defle'iit'ing' elements; matriarcment of ,the,side vguides beingcontrolled by meats-er a love aifiil'Zlhavi fig" prvo'teaithe extensions 13 iafid114 I 'edfjresp'ectiiielyf tb .thefside' guides by, me ns; or studs 15 and "161 The lever aft ii itself is pivotefdfon: a '17; intermediate the extensions 13' and T4; the arrangement i'sfsuch thafmoi ernenti er the leve rirrii a cloclgwisecdirection willresult in moving "the side'guides:

oward one a o her; wliereasrfioremenr or the" 1eyerai-m in theopposite direction wmresmt'irr the joint movement of thesid'e guide awayrra ire bnmher. s

.In Figure 7, ,I have. illustrated" a. workpiece of a inQFigur'e l. The. workpiece 18" is'jpfovidledi with a plurality of aligned slits 1 9; 'an'd it will be understood that the deflection e'leirie'nts'fin theiri-e'o'action serve'to depress qefieerpo tons of the workpiecelying between the slits 1n"such fa'sh1on that the leather portions; beneath which a laoing strip is to be positioned; are brou'ght'into substantlally' a single plane, While the-leathenportions above 7 Whichth'e strip is' to'be positioned are brought into sub- 's'tant'iaily a' singleplane so 'spa'ced'frointheffirst menhoned plane that a lacing means or needle may'befthrust hearts, the jaws of which 7 'downwardlyprojecting side's'28 arm-'29.- The projections 27 are also arranged in staggered row's'with spaces 30 therebetween; and it will be understood that when the, deflecting elements are fitted together the projections 22 I' of the lower'deflecting element will fit into the "spaces {30 in the upper deflecting element and. similarly the pro- 'jection 27 will fit into the spaces 23,; therebyrproviding substantially continuous channels 'for' the passage of the needles;

Figure 8' illustrates theipqsitioning. jthefwo'rltpiece V 18 on the lower deflecting element whereit is'centered between the side guides 10 and 11;and the upper -de= fleeting element is shown just prior. to' its contact-with V the workpiece to deflect portions; thereof lying between the slits 19. From this illus'tration'it will be apparent that the sides 24, of the projections 22 are in' alignment'with the sides 28' and 29; of the projections 27.3]

' Figure 7 a 9 illustrates" the; deflecting elementsj in' el o's'ed "ro ter? an h e d ra'fl 19 :a s n le "st iflie w kp ce Wi i e a n ai e ure 5 llu t at needles in positio'n iii-the channels; definedby" thefprojections 22 and'27', 'Adjacent needles lying" alternately and berween'rhe dies and" between the deflected portions of "the workpiece, lf'referably the workpiece will be provided with one or more sets :of notches or nicks-20 adapted to be aligned with notches'll inithe 'sid'elguide'sj thereby las'su'ring properie'g'istty of the workpiece with the de- Itswill be'understood thatthere are various t' pes and styles of lacingand siies and shapes of tthe workpiece, a

and the illustrative use herein of an elongated laced strip is' not to be taken' as' a limitation of the invention'to the a particular style shown. The slits may; for example-,tbe of various shapes and sizes, may be spaced in various ways and at varying distances; and may be slanted at var1ous1an'gles to' the axis of the workpiece or parallel or perpe'ndicular with the axis, as maybe required for a given; style of lacing. In addition, the term slit as used herein is' employed in a nonlimiting' sense.- In many 7 forms of laced structures the workpiece'ismereIy provided with linear'cuts whichform'the slits; but I use the 7 term broadly enough to encompass two-dimensional per;-

toiatioizis; slots,- holes', or any other apertures through whichlaein'g strips or thongs" maybe d-rawn in lacing f 1 the. structure. Similarly, it will' be understood that the configuration of the side guides 10 and- 11' may be altered as required to accommodate workpieces of varying shapes -;and sizes. a

Figure 3 illustrates in detail the-,construct'ion 'of the lower deflecting element. It comprises staggered rows of upwardly extending projections 22 having spaces 23'therefbetween. The projectionsfil are U-shaped in crosssec- ;tio'mhavingupwardly'eXtend-ing sides 24 andc25 which 7 :may be characterized as being elongated, in one directionand narrowin the opposite direction: The U-shaped r projections thus defines longitudinally"extending channels through which theneedle elements are passed. At its ends; the lower deflecting element is provided with'elongated channels 26 which are in alignmentwith the, projecti-ons and: serve as guideways for the needles; to assure their proper passage through the channels defined by the V f projections; s .7 at

Figure 'illustra'tes the upper defiectingelem'ent 2;. and it :too is provided with -U-shaped projection. having i clamping plates 38 anrli39: will be; provided v tionsr42 to receivethe'free:endstzofithe pins; 7 Theplam'ping plates are of a size to overlie ,maiginal edgelp ortions of the workpiece; in thermanner illustrated in 'F igure lt, and the plates; are clamped against; the; workpieceby 7 means ofpivote'd arms 43 and 44 adapted to-be securedg' above and below-the deflected porti'c'm of theworkpiece;

To end sit w ill benched-"that: the sides of adja'cent projections," ishch as the side? 24d ofth lo wer projection la. 't n vle i er'e V. .7 lt willbe understood th'at the needles are inserted after sufficient tofpermit the workpiece, t'o 'pass the? deflecting elements "have: been closed,

providing 1 a convenient tip i which may be grasped by I the operato tothreadthe strip.r Thestrip is also preferably is provided with a detent'SS- adaPted to be received in a des pres'sion: or perforation'36 in the body' iortion of' the needle; *A piece of lacing leather mayfbetengaged with jig; jThe laeingi jig isillustra'ted: in-Fig'ures 1:14 .andlSiand comprises a base'31 on-which aremountedtclampingplates 38 and 39,.I.the"c1amping'plates being hinged to the base byrnean's of hingesAQ Upstandingpinsrdl serve as posi-: 1 V V tioning means for the workpiece ,the'inotchesi20ginzthe workpiece coincidingawith the: pins; andipreferablyf the w t merfq abeneath the latch tonguesi4 f'and t i Uponpositioningz of. the; workpieceiin-the ji g iand the closing of theiarms;43;- A44 tolfirmly secure: it place the thongs orlacing strips are secured to the bifurcated ends of the-needles; whereupon the -needles are drawn through the workpiece so as to position the lacing elements.

" 29a of a the ubber projelctioh; are spaced apart needle ;30 V ibeing provided for eachjofthielongated channels; A K needle sui'table-for this ptirpose isiilliis'tra'ted in Figure ll 7 whereinf'thefneedle;30 i provideda one endvv itli'ajbi-i 'fhrcateil head' 'fiil adap d-tb receivea;acing'eleinentjz bebf alehgth tb ktficl frqm one j ear-t e needle throug an offtlie slits'in l 2; r have inusrratee a preterm-aro a; V needle whereirith'ebifuroa'tedendincludesa spring inetal strip ss brarsea erwelaea to tae beay (sewe -Sahara 1 at 34. The strip 33 projects beyond the hqay' oftheneedle" andjiLmay be pbiht'eddf-10l1tided, in ithievent 1 j A segment of the completed workpiece is shown in Figure 16 wherein it will be apparent that the lacing elements have been laced through the strips 47, 48 of the workpiece, the lacing elements passing alternately above and below the strips. It will be understood that subsequent to the lacing of the workpiece, the needles will be removed and the workpiece discharged from the jig.

By means of the procedure and apparatus just described, even a small producer may economically and profitably produce laced structures. It will be understood that While my invention has been described in connection with the lacing of leather pieces, it will find utility in the lacing of diverse materials other than leather. Modifications may, of course, be made in my invention without departing from the spirit of it.

Having. however, described my invention in an exemplary embodiment, what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for lacing a workpiece, a base plate, a deflecting element supported on said base plate, said deflecting element including laterally extending planar surfaces projecting outwardly from opposite sides thereof, side guides slidably supported on said laterally extending surfaces for positioning a workpiece placed on said deflecting element, adjustment means for jointly moving said side guides toward and away from each other, and a second base plate and deflecting element adapted to be juxtaposed to said first named deflecting element with the workpiece positioned therebetween, said deflecting elements each comprising a plurality of fixedly secured generally U-shaped projections aligned in one direction and spaced in a transverse direction to provide channels for the passage of needle elements, the projections of the respective deflecting elements being adapted to fit together in interdigitating relation so as to deflect portions of the workpiece to either side of a median plane.

2. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjustment means comprises a lever arm pivoted to said base plate intermediate its ends, wherein an extension connects each of said side guides to said lever arm, there being an extension for each of said side guides, and wherein said extensions are pivotally connected to said lever arm on the opposite side of its pivotal connection to said base plate.

3. In apparatus for lacing a workpiece, a pair of deflecting elements adapted to be mounted in a press and having interdigitating projections for deflecting portions of a workpiece placed therebetween, said projections being generally U-shaped and aligned in one direction of the deflecting elements and spaced in a transverse direction to provide channels for the passage of needle elements between the deflected portions of said workpiece, whereby a plurality of needle elements may be inserted in the channels so as to lie between the deflected portions of the workpiece in laced relationship therewith, in combination with a jig for receiving the workpiece and needle assembly upon removal from between said deflecting elements, said jig including clamping means for securing said workpiece thereto so that upon subsequent attachment lacing elements to said needles, said needles may be withdrawn from said workpiece and replaced by the lacing elements attached thereto.

4. The combination claimed in claim 3 wherein said jig comprises a base, clamping plates hingedly secured to said base and adapted to engage opposed marginal edge portions of the workpiece, and locking means for securing the said clamping plates in the closed position.

5. The apparatus claimed in claim 4 wherein said base includes upstanding guide pins for aligning said workpiece, said clamping plates having perforations therein in alignment with said guide pins, whereby said clamping plates may be closed over said guide pins.

6. A process for producing a laced structure which comprises providing a pair of deflecting elements adapted to be brought together with a piece of work therebetween to deflect aligned portions of the workpiece alternately to either side of a median plane, aligning a piece of work on one of said deflecting elements, bringing the said deflecting elements together so as to deflect the workpiece, and while the deflecting elements are in engagement, passing along the said median plane a plurality of lacing elements so that alternately deflected portions of the workpiece lie to either side of the lacing elements, removing the workpiece from between said deflecting elements and securing it to a supporting means, engaging strips of lacing material with the end of said lacing elements, withdrawing the lacing elements so as to position the lacing strips between the alternately deflected portions of said workpiece, and thereafter releasing said workpiece from said supporting'means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 765,191 OBrien July 19, 1904 1,681,356 Luckweil Aug. 21, 1928 2,566,657 Epstein Sept. 4, 1951 

